Retroperitoneal malignant schwannoma: a case report.

Malignant Schwannoma is a primary nerve sheath tumor that rarely occurs within the retroperitoneum. It occurs more commonly in patients with von Recklinghausen's disease but is also seen without this association. Our patient demonstrated no evidence of multiple neurofibromatosis, as seen in classical von Recklinghausen's disease. A review of the English literature on retroperitoneal malignant schwannoma suggested that radical surgical excision offered the best hope for cure. Experiences with adjunctive chemotherapy and radiotherapy were too meagre for meaningful evaluation of their effectiveness.